Kruisafname 1510 - 1530

This 16th-century engraving by the Monogrammist S depicts the Descent from the Cross, a scene laden with symbols of grief and redemption. Central to the composition is the cross, a potent emblem of sacrifice, now being relieved of its burden. Note the ladders, tools that facilitate the delicate removal of Christ’s body, echoing motifs of aid and intervention found in earlier depositions. The Virgin Mary cradles her son, an image evoking the Pietà, a timeless symbol of maternal sorrow seen across various cultures. Her suffering mirrors the universal experience of loss, a primal emotion deeply embedded in our collective memory. Consider, too, the surrounding figures, their gestures of mourning reminiscent of ancient lamentations. This choreography of grief, passed down through generations, touches a chord deep within the viewer, engaging us in a dialogue with the past. The cyclical nature of death and rebirth, a theme pervasive throughout art history, finds resonance here. It serves as a reminder of how symbols evolve, resurface, and transform, echoing across time in an unbroken chain of human expression.